The best restaurants in Richmond

This genuinely friendly family-run Italian is popular with locals and visitors alike on account of its authentic food and charming service. Bacco may have all the visual trappings of a contemporary Italian restaurant, but at its heart is an old-fashioned trattoria so diners can expect classic pastas and simple antipasti as well as more expensive dishes come evening. It’s also handy for theatre-goers.

This stylish, independent Italian restaurant is a favourite of well-heeled locals for suppers and celebrations on account of its seasonal fare and excellent wine list. Each week, the Head Chef and his team pick the best ingredients to create traditional Italian favourites, from pasta and pizza to meat and fish dishes, so you can be sure of a hearty meal whatever the occasion.

Locals love this neighbourhood Indian restaurant, which is often fully booked at weekends. Chef Patron, Sudden Alberts, describes the Swagat style of cooking as having a “lightness of touch", meaning the emphasis is on enhancing and not overwhelming the delicate flavours used here. Swagat boasts a fantastic selection of dishes from across India, including plenty of vegetarian options, and top-notch service.

Prices are high at this remote café/teahouse/shop, but it’s a unique spot worth visiting at least once. Many of the ingredients used in the seasonal Italian dishes are sourced from the beautiful walled garden of Petersham House, so seasonality and up-the-the-minute freshness are guaranteed. Set within the elegant glasshouse, brimming with bougainvillea and fragrant jasmine, it’s a place for lunch on the slow.

Hawthorn has filled the gaping hole that Glasshouse left behind, and in the process has brought Kew’s restaurant scene back to life. It may be a neighbourhood restaurant but don’t let that fool you, this is a fine dining spot much like its predecessor, and brings an equally delicious modern European menu with it.

Scott’s in Richmond is the west London sister of major seafood authority Scott’s Mayfair. And, not to be outdone, brings its own advantage of a riverside location. Expect extravagance, splendour and all of the brand’s signature dishes.

This stylish country-house hotel would be worth a visit for the views alone, but as it happens, the food is as pretty as the outlook. The menu blends classics with more modern concepts, but whichever you go for, you can bet it’ll be gorgeously-presented as Head Chef Jean-Didier Gouges is big on using flowers and herbs for presentation.

Ornate chandeliers, botanical prints and the odd sequined decoration add plenty of glamour to this striking bar/restaurant that’s something of an oasis in the heart of Richmond. Diners can expect freshly prepared Mediterranean/Asian-style food and seasonal cocktails, such as the spiced blood orange mix that’s served hot. Prices are steep, but the weekday set menu is good value.

Authentic Breton-based cooking and a friendly, relaxed setting is what diners can expect at this compact neighbourhood restaurant in Richmond. Precise cooking rather than an innovative menu is what keeps this all-day bistro buzzing, so while you might find the idea of de volaille à la Normande (chicken breast with calvados cream sauce) or galettes a little predictable, you’ll be astounded by the quality once you taste them.

Lavish interiors, which include bright orange banquette seating, cornflower blue and mirrored pillars, and a shiny bar make this casual outpost of The Ivy a delightful place to while away a few hours. If there’s one other thing that The Ivy group does well, it’s showmanship, and that goes for the all-day café-style menus too. Whether you’re stopping by for breakfast, lunch, light snacks, afternoon tea, cocktails, weekend brunch and dinner, The Ivy Café Richmond promises a good time.

This newly refurbished restaurant inside the Richmond Hill Hotel is made up of a series of exquisitely designed Art Deco spaces and a seasonal 'turf to table' inspired menu that celebrates local produce and heritage. In simpler terms, the crowd-pleasing all-day menu prioritises familiarity over foodie fireworks, but it works. Vegan and vegetarian options are also available alongside a bottomless brunch menu.

Richmond Vault Beer Cellar and Restaurant is a labyrinth of cosy areas, so whether you’re just looking for a pint and something to nibble on or a full sit-down meal, you can. Located in a fantastic basement beneath two Georgian buildings in the centre of Richmond, this super-friendly spot caters to children as well as to adults, with a variety of different cuisines. From pizza and burgers to seafood, salads and sharing boards, there’s something for everyone here.

Tucked away on a side road, this independent neighbourhood bar and restaurant has an appealing rustic-chic vibe with light green and white walls, exposed brick and ceilings, and a sleek bar. Food-wise, the comprehensive menu includes everything from breakfast and all-day brunch on the weekends to sharing plates, mains, and Sunday roasts. If you can, nab a spot on its gorgeous terrace that’s a sun-trap by day, and a twinkling oasis by night.

There’s plenty on the menu at this outpost of Gaucho, but really you ought to opt for steak, as that’s what this Argentinian restaurant does best. If not steak of an evening, then how about bottomless brunch of a weekend as you watch boats glide past on the river? Whatever meal you drop in for, you can expect top-quality ingredients and pleasant views.

Nothing to do with Rick Stein and everything to do with beer mugs, this Bavarian pub is the place to go when you get a hankering for authentic Munich beer and great German food. This friendly pub sits in a prime location directly besides the river and offers stunning views, so you can gaze out at Richmond Hill as you get stuck into the likes of wurst and apple strudel.

The chefs at this family-run restaurant are experts in cuisine from the four regions of China, meaning guests can expect hearty dim sum and Szechuan dishes full of exciting flavours. The a la carte menu is vast and, while mainly meaty, does offer several vegetarian options. The interiors are nothing to write home about, but friendly staff more than make up for it.

So long as you ignore the stone-age website, cluttered interior, and the fact that you’re not allowed to choose what you eat, you’re in for a great time at this eccentric Italian trattoria. In Italian, Al Boccon di'vino translates as "a divine mouthful" and this is what the team here aspires to deliver with all of their food and wine. Simply leave the ordering to chef-proprietor Riccardo, chat to your neighbours (whose elbows are in knocking distance) and settle in for a fantastic meal.

This French brasserie is more Twickenham than Richmond, but well worth the trip across the bridge so we’re including it anyway. Its gorgeous good looks, which include stained-glass windows, dark wood flooring, studded grey banquettes and clothed tables set the scene for excellent-quality modern European cooking from Chef Patron Gianluca di Monaco.

The Richmond outpost of London’s original sourdough pizza chain is definitely one of its coolest, situated as it is in the old police station. Beautiful wooden accents and exposed brick make the interior as cosy as can be, while the pizzas are as dependable as rain on a Bank Holiday weekend. Specials change according to the season and include meat, vegetarian and vegan options.

The Dysart is just another feather in Petersham’s cap of spectacular restaurants, creating a menu from locally sourced ingredients and seasonal produce. As well as some properly good food (further verified by it’s Michelin star), you can also enjoy unbeaten views over Richmond Park.